Shoe.



Patented Oct. 23, I900.

a. s. WEBBEB.

S H 0 E Application filed July 23, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ZipgnYary Qeorye Q5 M5267;

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UNITED P T OFFICE.

GEORGE-S. WEBBER, OFCH'IOAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent. No. 660,284, dated October23, 1900.

' Application filed J l 23, 1900. Serial No. 24,513. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/corm- Be it known that I, GEORGE S. WEBBER,,a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illithe shoe being left flexible and of neat ap-,

pearance.

In carrying out my invention I provide the upper on one side of the slitor opening with a metallic guide and employ in combination therewith aclosing-web or oscillating flap provided on its inner surface adjacentto one edge with a guideso connected to the upper on the opposite sideof the slit as to permit substantially a pivotal movement of the web inthe operation of closing or opening the upper. Means are provided forsecuring the flap in its closed position.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention in itspreferred form, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe the upperwhereof is closed by the improved fastening device; Fig. 2, a similarview with the flap or web thrown open; Fig. 3, a broken perspective viewof the opposite side of the shoe, showing the manner of attaching theflap to the upper on the side not equipped with a guide; Fig. 4, abroken section taken, as indicated, at line 40f Fig. 3; and Fig. 5,abroken View of the underside of the flap, showing the manner ofattachment of the guide.

A represents a shoe the upper of which is provided with the usual slitor placket a. On 7 one side of the slit a the upper is provided withaguide b, which extends in the same general direction as the edge of theslit.

B represents a web, flap, or placket-cover provided on its inner surfaceadjacent to one edge with a guide 0 and provided, further, at itsopposite side with means for securing it to the upper on the side of theslit which is not equipped with a guide. In the construction shown thereare employed a buckle d, secured by a strip 01 to the upper, and atongue or strip (1 secured to the lower inner corner of the flap. Thisconstitutes an ad justable fastening for. the lower portion of the flapand is in effect a flexible connection, permitting a pivotal movementofthe flap. Near the top of the upperthere is provided a strip f, which ispreferably of elastic material and equipped at its free end with abuttonf. '60 The flap is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with a buttonholeorsocket f which is preferably the female portion of a glove-button.

The guides 12 and c are preferably formed of I continuous wire-asdescribed, for instance, '65 in Patent No., 624,587, granted to me May9, 1899'. The guides are permanently secured to the upper and flap,respectively, in any desired manner. In Fig. 5 the guide 0 is shownsecured to the inner surface of the flap by threads g. In Fig. l'theflap is-shown provided with buttons, which are placed directly above theguide 0 and are secured in place by the threads 9. These buttons performno useful function aside from enhancing the appearance of the shoe andgiving the effect of a button-shoe.

In use the flap is adjusted by means of the buckle shown to suit thewearer in the matter of tightness of the upper. In the operation ofclosing the shoe the flap is swung downwardly about the flexibleconnection at d until the upper portion of the guide 0 engages the lowerportion of the guide I), after which the flap is swung upwardly untilthe guides are in engagement throughout their length. The button f isthen inserted into the socket f and firmly secures the flap. Where thestrip f is of elastic material, it is unnecessary to provide anyadjustment thereat. Such ad justment may be provided, however, ifdesired.

g It is of course essential that the guides and fastenings be so locatedand that the form of the guides be such that when the flap is closedthere is the desired pressure exerted throughout every portion of theguides. It will be understood that the flap may be connected to theupper in any other suitable manner than that shown which will permit ofthe desired 10o pivotal movement. Also the form of the fastoning at theupper portion of the flap may be changed as desired. The guide 6 isshown located on the outer side of the front of the upper. One advantageresulting from this arrangement is that the sap is easily fitted to thefoot and danger of its'buckling is readily avoided. The position of theparts may, however, be reversed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a shoe, the combination with an upper provided with a slit, of aguide located on the upper on one side of said slit, a flap providedwith a guide engaging said firstnamed guide, means for securing saidflap to the upper on the opposite side of said slit and permitting aturning movement of the flap to cause the flap-guide to traverse theupper guide, and means for securing the flap in its closed position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a shoe, the combination of an upper provided with a slit, a guidesecured to said upper on one side of said slit,,a flap adj nstablysecured to said upper on the opposite side of said slit, and a guidesecured to said flap and engaging said first-namedguide, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

3, In a shoe, the combination of" an upper provided with a slit,a guidesecnred'to said upper on one side of said slit, a web secured near itslower portion to said upper on the opposite side of said slit, a guideon said Web engaging said first-named guide, and means for securing thefree upper corner of the web after the web is in its closed position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a shoe, the combination of an upper provided with a slit, a curvedguide secured -to said upper on onevside of said slit, a web securednear its lower portion to said upper onthe opposite side ofsaid slit andhaving movement about its point of fastening, a curved guide on said webengaging and traversing said first-namediguide, and means for securingthe free upper corner of the web aften the web is in its closedposition, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE S. WEBBER.

In presence of- D. W. LEE, A. .D. BAocI.

